Importance of Stainless Steel Quality Control Order is undisputed: ISSDA

Inaccurate and misleading facts on Quality Control Order being publicized as part of false propaganda

New Delhi, 05th August’16: India’s apex stainless steel industry body, the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) condemns the smear campaign being conducted by handful of unethical vested interests against the government’s Quality Control Order (QCO) on stainless steel flat products. The main objective of this QCO is protection of consumer interest against sub-standard stainless steel. This irresponsible campaign against stainless steel QCO, amounts to slander against Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision for ‘ZERO DEFECT, ZERO EFFECT’, manufacturing in India. “Opposing progressive government policies for suiting their own agenda is not only against public interest but also affects long term competitiveness of the country. The stainless steel QCO serves the well-being of the industry in long term and consumer interest at large”, said N.C Mathur, President, ISSDA.

ISSDA condemn these unethical associations’ allegations to term this QCO as ‘arbitrary’. ISSDA would like to bring this important fact in public domain, that starting from first round of stakeholder’s consultations on stainless steel QCO which began in August’ 14, Ministry of Steel invited all concerned stakeholders including end users like BHEL, EIL and utensils makers etc. to seek inputs on the subject. Secondly, the draft QCO was put in public domain for seeking comments from all stakeholders within a period of 60 days. Not only domestic but all foreign manufacturers were also given opportunity to present their views on the draft QCO as prescribed by WTO rules until October 2015. Thus, to term the stainless steel QCO as arbitrary is a complete false allegation and this challenges the government bonafide decision in public interest after following due procedure, added Mr. Mathur. Further, views of all stakeholders were considered before issuing QCO. To say this exercise was conducted in isolation is a blatant false and misplaced allegation against the government, with deliberate intension of misleading the public.

It is pertinent to note that stainless steel QCO was supported by all major domestic stainless steel players including apex industry associations like CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM and even found no major opposition from the international community. In a recent industry interaction with steel minister Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh, all major stainless steel associations including All India Stainless Steel Cold Rollers Association and Jagadhari Stainless Steel re-Rollers Association(who represent SMEs units) along with ISSDA welcomed the move by the Ministry of Steel to notify the Stainless steel QCO,2016. All the associations reiterated the need to have quality stainless steel flat products in the country as it will benefit all stakeholders including end users in the SMEs and MSMEs segment.

The Stainless steel QCO is restricted to only the 25 grades of stainless steel which are covered in the three standards. All other stainless steel grades are exempted from the QCO. As in the past, ISSDA would like to closely work with the Ministry of Steel and BIS in creating benchmarks of excellence in manufacturing high quality stainless steel flat products which will improve global competitiveness for our products.